Collection: What are Free Radicals?

Lately, there has been much discussion about free radicals in the skincare and health communities. What do they do? And where do they come from?

Studies have recently shown that cancer does not randomly pop up in our bodies; it has a trigger and a cause. Free radicals have been named one of the leading causes of cancer.

But where do they come from? Are they really dangerous? And if they are, is there a way to combat the damage they cause?

Where do Free Radicals Come From?

Free radicals enter our skin through several different sources. Sometimes they can occur naturally in the body, depending on what we eat and how often we exercise. In addition, our cells naturally oxidize and die off, and as they do, they can leave behind free radicals.

Another source of free radicals is sun exposure. When we spend too much time in the sun, enough time that the UV waves can cause premature aging, our skin cells can become oxidized and begin pumping out free radicals.

So even if you do not get a sunburn, you may still be experiencing free radicals.

The third source of free radicals is environmental pollutants, like gasoline fumes and smog. When harmful chemicals come in contact with the skin, they can introduce free radicals. While a steady diet of fruits and vegetables can help fight off free radicals within the body, you must take other measures to fight free radical damage to the skin.

What Do Free Radicals Do?

Free radicals are fast-moving and can quickly go from one cell to another, causing a severe problem and interrupting the body's natural processes. This can cause the cell to oxidize and die (for comparison, consider how a cut apple will quickly turn brown when exposed to the air). In addition, they cause our bodies to age.

If we are exposed to too many free radicals, allowing them to generate out of control, we can begin to age prematurely and at an accelerated rate.

How to Prevent Free Radical Damage

Luckily, there are many ways that the body protects itself from free radicals. You can also add skincare products with antioxidants that you can use that fight them. A healthy diet chocked full of antioxidants is a great place to start.

Eating plenty of dark-colored fruits and vegetables provides nutrients. In addition, natural, organic fruits and vegetables contain the highest levels of antioxidants.

There are also topical treatments that you can use to introduce antioxidants directly into the skin. Again, look for a product that cites them individually or contains fruit, tree, or vegetable extracts. For example, anti-aging serums with high concentrations of Vitamin C are beneficial.

In addition, powerful, naturally-derived ingredients from Amazon fruits like acai berry work well.

Our Super Defenses:

These powerful, naturally derived ingredients are your best defense against free radicals. They neutralize and stop free radicals in their tracks.

Alpha Lipoic Acid is one of the most beneficial nutritional supplements. Superoxide Dismutase derived from cantaloupe or melons is another natural fighter.

Finally, spin Trap or PBN defends plus goes one step further and reuses them as oxygen in the body.

About the Author
Kari Thomas wrote this article.